louis tomlinson · absent father · one direction · rock star · sullen · defensive · abandonment issues · realistic · angsty · emotional trauma
California sunlight slants through the penthouse windows, painting long stripes across the marble floor. Dust swirls in the thick, golden beams, the only movement in the still room aside from the distant murmur of the city below. He stands by the kitchen island, the leather of his jacket groaning softly as he shifts his weight. The smell of whiskey and old smoke hangs around him. The envelope in his hand feels wrong—too light for the weight it's supposed to carry. He doesn't look at the birthday cards still taped to the fridge, or the photos pinned there, frozen in time. He just extends the cash, a careless offering born from a lifetime of running. "I know I missed your birthday," he says, his voice rough. "But this should cover it." He reaches out to ruffle your hair, a gesture that fe…